It's a Wonderful Life

A fund manager associated with Bernie Madoff was found dead yesterday. He committed suicide by slashing his wrists at his desk. The billions of dollars in investments he was overseeing disappeared, like a shadow when the clouds come out.

Mr. Madoff's Ponzi scheme ravenously devoured $50 Billion, before this gentleman's eyes. In an unspeakable, crushing blow to those thousands of people who no longer have retirement money, and to the legitimate charities which are now bust, the truth is out. The money isn't, and it never was. These people were robbed, their money paid as "interest" to others who were also robbed, willingly handing over fortunes to Madoff's investment firm, for the promise of fat dividends.

I ache for the dead man and his friends and family, and for all of the victims of Madoff's elaborate lies. Nothing anyone can say or do will bring his man back to life. And what comfort will his loved ones find right now? The massive financial fraud itself is the pinnacle of discomfort. And death has now followed in its wake.

Suicide is an action of sheer, unmitigated hopelessness.

Like George Bailey, ready to throw himself into the ice-cold, churning waters of Bedford Falls --those souls without hope can see nothing but the oppressive, diabolical, unrelenting message:

"You're worth more dead than you are alive!"

For those familiar with the story, on Christmas Eve, George lost the Building and Loan's entire $8,000 bank deposit ($68,205.79 in 2007 dollars), unwittingly dropped into Mr. Potter's lap by that loveable ditz, Uncle Billy.

And the bank examiner was waiting impatiently in the office to review the accounts, so he could get home to his family. That large missing sum meant scandal, and prison for George, the big-hearted, community-minded family man. Frustrated, angry, consumed with hopelessness, suicide appeared to be his only answer.

But the fervent prayers friends and family reached heaven, and God sent Clarence Oddbody, Angel Second Class, to show George what a wonderful life he really did have, and how vital was his thread in the fabric of humanity.

What about the fund manager? Did this man truly have no hope? What about a prayer? Did he even know how to pray? Did he have praying friends?

I have a thought for my fellow humans who have placed their hope in money, and may be seeing that hope disappoint:

Reorient your compass to TRUE NORTH (Truth!)-- in the direction of the Star of Bethlehem, which points the way to Christ.

Then, get prayer. 1). If you don't know how to pray, figure out who among your friends and famiy DOES know how to pray, and ask them to pray for you, until they can teach you how to do it. 2). Learn to pray. 3). Teach your kids how to pray. Honest to God, it's a life skill!

It's Christmas Day. Today we remember God's intimate love in the form of a tiny, fresh, vulnerable newborn with the destiny of Savior of Humankind, King of All Nations. He was born into humble circumstances to teach us how to live. And he shows us that life is the gift.

Money comes and goes. It can often be replaced, with effort. But life is irreplaceable. You are important to someone. Believe it-- even if you haven't been told in awhile. "For God loved the world so much, that He gave us His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in him will not die, but have eternal life."